Running data central display arrangement for motor vehicles and the like

Abstract

A running or driving data central display arrangement for motor vehicles and the like in which a plurality of indications, (for example, an abnormal operating state or trouble warning display, a response display for providing information readouts according to call instructions entered by a driver, and a time display), are centralized into a single display portion for enabling a reduction in the mounting space required for the display unit and also enabling the easy facilitation of reading the indications provided by the display unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display system for use in a motor vehicle having a plurality of sensors for sensing the operating perameters of said vehicle at preselected locations, said display system comprising: a time signal generator for generating a signal indicative of the time of day;   a measured data signal generator for receiving the output of at least some of said plurality of sensors and for performing arithmetic manipulation of said outputs of said sensors to generate signals corresponding to predetermined parameters of said motor vehicle, said measured data signal generator including a multiplexer means for selecting one of said outputs of said measured data signal generator in response to a multiplex control signal;   an abnormal state signal generator operatively connected to at least some of said plurality of sensors and to said measured data signal generator for generating a signal when the output of at least one of said sensors is outside its respective predetermined range and for generating a signal when at least one of the outputs of said measured data signal generator is outside its respective predetermined range, said abnormal state signal generator simultaneously generating a code signal corresponding to the sensor having an output outside said respective predetermined range and simultaneously generating a code signal corresponding to said output of said measured data signal generator having an output outside said respective predetermined range;   a preference signal selecting unit operatively connected to said time signal generator, said measured data signal generator, and said abnormal state signal generator for selectively gating, as its output, the output of one of said time signal generator, measured data signal generator, and abnormal state signal generator;   a display unit responsive to the selectively gated output of the preference signal selecting unit;   a manual operator control means operatively connected to said measured data signal generator and said preference signal selecting unit for controlling said multiplexer to control the output of said measured data signal generator inputted to said preference signal selecting unit; wherein said preference signal selecting unit comprises signal selecting means for enabling the display unit to display the output of said abnormal state signal generator when said abnormal state signal generator produces an output, for enabling the display unit to display the output of said measured data signal generator under the simultaneous occurrence of the absence of an output from said abnormal state signal generator and a manually entered control input in said manual input means, and for enabling said display unit to display the output of said time signal generator under the simultaneous occurrence of the absence of outputs from said abnormal state generator and said measured data signal generator.   
     
     
       2. A display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display unit comprises an alphabetical and numerical display having a plurality of segments. 
     
     
       3. A display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said abnormal state signal generator comprises: a plurality of level detectors, each level detector providing an output when its respective input is outside its respective predetermined range;   an OR gate operatively connected to the outputs of said level detectors for providing an output when at least one of said level detectors generates an output;   an abnormal state character generator operatively connected to said level detectors for producing a code signal corresponding to the level detector generating an output; and   a flip-flop operatively connected to said OR gate for storing the occurrence of an output generated by said OR gate.   
     
     
       4. A display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said preference signal selecting means comprises; first, second and third AND gates;   said first AND gate operatively connected to the abnormal state signal generator, wherein when said abnormal state signal generator produces an output, said first AND gate is energized;   said second AND gate operatively connected to said abnormal state signal generator, said manual operator control means and said measured data signal generator, wherein when said manual operator control means produces an output, said second AND gate is energized and wherein when said abnormal state signal generator produces an output, said second AND gate is inhibited;   said third AND gate operatively connected to said abnormal state signal operator, said manual operator control means and said time signal generator, wherein when either of said abnormal state signal generator and said manual operator control means produces an output, said third AND gate is inhibited and wherein when said time signal generator produces an output, said third AND gate is energized.